Purposeful Literature Reviews

The Purpose of the Literature Review

To show the MA level descriptors regarding:

• In depth knowledge of the field.
• Analysis of key concepts,models, research, and writing.
  
• Analysis of the existing written material.
• Analysis of the components of  "best practice".
• Evaluation of existing research, ideas models.

To justify the practice (to be researched at a later stage).

as example).

To establish the research project as a means of developing knowledge of the field.

To link the introduction, context and background section to the later sections on the research.

The Genre

It follows that the purposes outlined above will affect the style or  genre of the writing. Its key features will be:

• authoratative showing knowledge
• balanced shoiwing arguments and evidenced
• reasoned-argued-considered
• critical
• analytical
• evaluative

Model Format

Introduction:

The specific context of the school, type size, background, staff.
The importance of the topic.
The questions to be investigated.
The objectives of the work.

The Critical Review of the Literature.

Main models theories and concepts.
The major differences in opinion/definition/research findings.
The gaps and dilemmas in models and theories.
Evaluation of consistency and coverage of key ideas
Criticisms of the models, theory, and literature.
Comparison of theory with knowledge of practice derived through experience
Critique of theory in the light of experience of practice
Summary of key concepts/ dimensions (include a diagram).

Conclusions

Summary outline of what you have achieved in the review.
Outline of what you will try to do and show empirically.
Outline of key questions that remain to be researched.

 Even More

The critical review of the literature can form about 1/3rd of the work! It is important in showing the MA level decriptors.